Honestly, if you're looking for the time of nascar race sunday and expecting to see the green flag drop at Daytona this afternoon, you're a few weeks early. We are currently in that weird "limbo" part of January where the big engines are still silent, but the regional tracks are starting to wake up. It's Friday, January 16, 2026, and while the Cup Series stars are mostly doing media runs and seat fittings right now, there is actually real racing happening this Sunday if you know where to look.
Most fans get tripped up here. They see "NASCAR" in the headlines and assume it’s the big show on FOX. But right now, the action is out west at Tucson Speedway for the 13th annual Chilly Willy. It’s a crown jewel for the regional guys, and it’s the only place you’re getting a fix before the Clash.
When Does the Green Flag Drop This Sunday?
For this Sunday, January 18, 2026, the main event is the Chilly Willy 150. Since it's happening in Arizona, the timing can be a bit tricky depending on your time zone.
The broadcast on FloRacing kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET. If you are local to the track or on Mountain Time, the front gates open at noon, opening ceremonies start at 12:55 p.m., and the racing starts at 1:00 p.m. MT.
It's not just one race, either. You’ve got Legend cars running multiple 50-lap features before the Super Late Models take over for the big 150-lap main event. Jace Hansen is the defending champ here, and he’s back to see if he can hold off about 36 other Super Late Models. It’s short-track racing at its best—gritty, loud, and usually pretty cold, hence the name.
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The 2026 Cup Series Countdown
If you came here looking for Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, or the new faces in the Cup Series, you have to wait until February 1st. That’s when the time of nascar race sunday really matters for the national standings.
The 2026 season is kicking off with a massive change of scenery. We are headed to Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for the Cook Out Clash. This is a huge deal. It’s the first time the Clash has been held at this historic "Madhouse" track.
Here is the immediate schedule for the start of the season:
- Sunday, Feb 1: The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. This one is a night race. Green flag is at 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX.
- Thursday, Feb 12: The Bluegreen Vacations Duels at Daytona. Racing starts at 7:00 p.m. ET on FS1.
- Sunday, Feb 15: The 68th Running of the Daytona 500. The big one starts at 2:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
Why Sunday Start Times Keep Shifting
You've probably noticed that the time of nascar race sunday isn't as consistent as it used to be. Back in the day, you could almost bet your life on a 1:00 p.m. start. Now? It’s all over the map.
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NASCAR and their TV partners (FOX, NBC, and now Amazon Prime and TNT for 2026) play a constant game of "find the viewers." For example, the race at Kansas on April 19 starts at 2:00 p.m. ET, but when we get to the Coca-Cola 600 in May, it’s a 6:00 p.m. ET start because it's a night race on Memorial Day weekend.
The 2026 season also introduces a big mid-season shift. Amazon Prime will take over the mid-summer stretch, and TNT Sports will follow them. This means some of those July races, like the one at Chicagoland on July 5, won't start until 6:00 p.m. ET. They are leaning heavily into those late afternoon and evening windows to avoid the peak summer heat and grab the prime-time TV audience.
Key Changes to Watch for in 2026
If you're planning your Sundays for the rest of the year, there are a few "blink and you'll miss it" changes to the 2026 calendar.
First, the championship isn't in Phoenix this year. After a long run out west, the finale is moving back to Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 8. The race time for the title decider is set for 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC.
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Second, we have a brand new street race. On June 21, the Cup Series heads to the San Diego Street Course at Naval Base Coronado. That's going to be a 4:00 p.m. ET start on Amazon Prime. It’s basically NASCAR’s version of Top Gun, and the visuals of the Next Gen cars racing past fighter jets are going to be wild.
What to Do While You Wait
Since there isn't a Cup race today, you've got a few options to get your racing fix:
- Check out FloRacing: They are the official home for the Chilly Willy this Sunday. It’s $150 a year, but if you love local dirt and asphalt racing, it’s basically the only way to watch the stars of tomorrow.
- Set your DVR for the Clash: Bowman Gray is tiny. It's a quarter-mile long. Watching 40 Cup cars try to navigate that is going to be absolute chaos.
- Update your calendar: The Daytona 500 is exactly one month away from yesterday.
Bottom line: If you're looking for the time of nascar race sunday for January 18, it's 2:45 p.m. ET for the regional stars in Tucson. For the big names you see on Sundays, mark your calendar for 8:00 p.m. ET on February 1st.
Double-check your local listings if you're on the West Coast, because those early afternoon East Coast starts (like the 2:30 p.m. Daytona start) mean you're eating breakfast with the engines revving at 11:30 a.m.
Confirm your streaming logins for FloRacing today if you plan on catching the Chilly Willy 150, as their sign-up process can sometimes be a bit slow right before a major event broadcast begins.